Workplace violence in the healthcare industry is unfortunately something that happens all too frequently and often goes unreported. Even with this lack of reporting, about 50% of workplace violence victims are healthcare workers according to the Emergency Nurses Association. So how do we bring awareness to workplace violence, specifically in the nursing and healthcare field? Let’s dive in.
Educate
First off, we must educate ourselves and others. Like anything else in nursing, education is a key part of understanding. Talking about workplace violence with friends and family helps to get the word out. Often people are completely unaware of how much violence we as nurses and other healthcare professionals deal with on a day-to-day basis. Not to mention how bad the violence must be for us to want to report it.
Types of Workplace Violence
In addition to educating on the frequency of workplace violence, we must address the various types that occur most often in the healthcare industry. Starting with physical violence, likely the most thought of one.
Physical Violence
Examples of physical violence in the healthcare field include being physically assaulted. Whether that be a hit, a kick, or even spit at. This includes strikes from elderly patients that don’t do much damage to those younger, and much stronger patients.
Psychological Violence
Psychological violence is the other commonly overlooked form of workplace violence. Examples of psychological violence includes verbal abuse including threats, intimidation tactics, and bullying. This unfortunately is often just thought of as part of the job, but any time a nurse or healthcare provider is bullied or threatened, it can affect their ability to carry out their job. And is therefore unacceptable.
Speak Up
Understanding workplace violence and education is very important, but so is speaking up for yourself. If you find yourself being assaulted physically or psychologically at work, say something! Both to your patient and to your supervisors.
To Your Patient
Let your patient know that you will not tolerate any sort of workplace violence. If they are talking rude to you, inform them that you will not let any of your patients talk to you in that manner. Let them know that you will leave the room to give them a chance to cool down and come back at a time when effective communication can be achieved. If this doesn’t work, call security, and let your breaker know.
To Your Supervisors
After you have let your patient know that you will not tolerate violent behavior, let someone else know. Even if when you go in the next time they are in a better mood, giving your breaker or another coworker a heads up before entering the room will help them to keep an ear out and give you another resource to help de-escalate the situation or call security if needed.
Visit Nursing Fundamentals: A Guide to the Complete Healthcare Team for more.
Don’t Put Yourself at Risk
Lastly, never put yourself at risk. If you are having problems with your patient and you’ve already gotten security and your supervisor involved, don’t get close enough to your patient to let them strike you. Always have someone standing at the door to listen in on what is happening for safety measures. If you have orders to start a new IV or even to just touch the patient for vital signs, reassess the need. It is okay to chart that the patient has been aggressive and refused treatment, just let the treating doctor know. No vital signs are worth injuring yourself over.
If you must be in close range to your agitated patient, be sure to have at least one buddy in the room with you to help restrain the patient while you do your job. If physical or chemical restraints are needed, be sure to call the doctor for the order, update the order as needed, and chart accordingly. See your state and hospital guidelines for proper assessment and documentation.
Visit How to Handle Aggressive Patients, Tips for New Nurses on Calling the Doctor, and A Nursing Guide to Patient Restraints for more information.
For more workplace violence statistics, visit Security: Workplace Violence Rises, Particularly for Nurses, Frontline Workers.
How do you address workplace violence? Comment below!
Be sure to check out the following for more information:
- What to Expect in the First Year as a New Grad Nurse
- What to Expect Out of Nursing: Expectations Versus Reality
- Organizational Brain Template for New Nurses
- How to do a Quick yet Effective Head-to-Toe Assessment
- Essentials of a Good Bedside Handoff Report